If you haven’t heard of my new project, the On Fire anthology over at Transmundane Press, this mini-interview and excerpt series will showcase the amazing authors I get to work with and their writing. Meet Lorraine Sharma Nelson.

How long have you been writing?

For as long as I can remember. Actually, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write stories. The very first story I wrote at age five was about a lion in the wild that was lonely and wanted to be part of a family.

What are the genre(s) of the stories you write and why?

I write sci-fi, horror, fantasy and crime. I don’t pick my stories; they pick me. An idea will pop into my head and I’ll just go with it. It’s the idea first, the genre second.

What do you find to be the easiest thing about writing? What is the hardest?

The easiest thing for me is writing the first draft. I love watching the story unfold in my head and putting it into words. The hardest thing is editing the story. I hate cutting out chunks to fit the word length, but it’s something that has to be done.

From “Consumed” by Lorraine Sharma Nelson

Vijay stepped outside, blinking in the harsh sunlight. The usual cacophony of sounds came from every direction, people already out and about their daily business.

But a woman standing beneath a neem tree drew his attention from across the busy street. Something about her beguiled him: the way she cocked her head and smiled. She was dressed in a beautiful blue sari, the color of the sky at twilight, and her dark hair braided in one loose rope hung down over her right shoulder to her tiny waist.

Déjà vu assailed him. Why did she look so familiar? Before he realized what he was doing, Vijay crossed the street, dodging scooters, cows, and tuk-tuks, the tiny cabs that permeated the city.

An overcrowded bus honked at him just as he reached the sidewalk.

And she was gone.

Frowning, Vijay looked around the square, at the dazzling array of women in colorful saris weaving in and out of the crowd. But none of them were her.

She couldn’t have gotten far.

No matter.

Who cares who she was anyway?

He had things to do.

Important things.

After breakfast.

He bought two butter naans and a steaming-hot cup of chai, which he ate at the beach, away from the crush of humanity.

The film cast and crew were gone. He sat on a sand dune and enjoyed his breakfast in relative peace and quiet. Still early, the beach would soon be packed with people, and he would move on.

As he popped the last piece of naan into his mouth, the woman from earlier appeared by the water, the surf crashing around her bare feet and ankles.

And she was watching him.

Lorraine grew up globally but now calls the United States home. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature, and a Master’s in Mass Communications. In addition to being a writer, Lorraine is also a wife, a mother, an avid sci-fi geek, and a New England Regional Board Member for UNICEF USA. She loves travel, reading, movies, and coconut cupcakes (though not necessarily in that order). Lorraine is published in sci-fi, horror, fantasy and mystery/crime. She can be found at her website, at Goodreads , on Twitter, and on Pinterest.